Dempsey Arrives in Romania for NATO Talks

The "family picture" of the NATO chiefs of defense at the welcoming ceremony to the Military Committee in Sibiu, Romania, Sept. 14, 2012. U.S. Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and U.S. Navy Adm. James G. Stavridis, the Supreme Allied Commander Operations, are on the far right. DOD photo by Jim Garamone(Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff will meet with his fellow chiefs of defense to discuss Afghanistan and other NATO issues. The meeting, hosted by Romanian Air Force Lt. Gen. Stefan Danila, lasts through Sept. 16.

This is the first Military Committee meeting since the NATO Summit in Chicago. The chiefs of defense will examine progress made in a number of areas. The meeting will concentrate on challenges in the wider security environment, as well as ongoing operations in Afghanistan and in the Western Balkans. Discussions will also focus on NATO’s transformation stages, including the structural revision of the International Military Staff.

NATO nations agreed in Chicago in May to ensure the alliance can perform the full range of missions even during austere times.

Danish Army Gen. Knud Bartels, the chairman of the committee, will preside. Navy Adm. James G. Stavridis, the NATO Supreme Allied Commander Operations, and Marine Corps Gen. John R. Allen, the commander of NATO’s International Security Assistance Force and commander of U.S. Forces-Afghanistan, are attending.

This is the first time Romania has hosted the Military Committee meeting, but Bucharest, the capital, hosted the NATO Summit in 2008. Romania has been an active member of the alliance even before officially joining in 2004.

Romania sent troops to Afghanistan in 2002 and now has roughly 1,800 service members in that country. Romania has also been active in the Balkans and had troops deployed to Iraq.

A Romanian color guard passes in review of the NATO chiefs of defense as part of the welcoming ceremony for the alliance's Military Committee in Sibiu, Romania, Sept. 14, 2012. U.S. Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is attending the meeting. DOD photo by Jim GaramoneDownload screen-resolutionDownload high-resolution

A young boy gets the best seat in the house -- on his father's shoulders -- during the welcoming ceremony for the NATO Military Committee in Sibiu, Romania, Sept. 14, 2012. The Romanian army hosted the welcoming ceremony for the chiefs of defense – including U.S. Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff -- in the town square of this historic and beautiful city. DOD photo by Jim GaramoneDownload screen-resolutionDownload high-resolution